The Offseason That Was

Jerry recently recapped bothhalves of the Outback Bowl, which was played on January 1, 2010. Pictured above is the celebration that took place after winning the game for the third and final time. Looking back, that celebration it feels like it happened years ago. And, of course, the beginning of that game feels like it was many years before that.

That game, the very first football game of the calendar year, took place 234 days ago. Since the day we eeked out a win to send our seniors off with an 8-5 record — which still sounds so much better than 7-6 — Auburn fans have more than eagerly awaited the kickoff of the 2010-2011 season. And, since that day, a lot of things have happened.

This magical time — this elongated wait in which we, in equal parts, suffer coldly like addicts without our drugs, and beam in the summer’s warmth with the infinite optimism of 0-0 — is called the offseason.

And, if you look around, you’ll notice that it’s coming to a close. The leaves are changing colors. Classes here in Auburn started last Wednesday. A couple of Sundays before that, the NFL preseason began. Fall camp is in full swing.

The offseason is officially almost officially over.

If you spent it wandering the hinterlands in an Auburn Snuggie, or frozen in suspended animation Futurama / Captain America style (if you did, please let me know how, as I totally could have used that technology lastoff season), here is a comprehensive, link-heavy recap that will catch you up on everything you missed. If you didn’t spend the offseason in either of those ways, you can read it for entertainment purposes. Pretend that you’re time traveling!

January 16 – On the hard court, Kentucky visits Auburn, packing Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum one last time. Auburn loses, 67-72. Ashley Judd was there, and still no one has discovered exactly who she is or why she is famous. Meanwhile, across campus, Coach Chizik dispels a rumor that Gus Malzahn was being courted by Louisiana Tech for their vacated head coaching position. Auburn breathes again.

January 30 – Auburn tops Alabama in the Iron Bowl of hoops, thanks to a late steal from DeWayne Reed and a clutch free throw from Lucas Hargrove. Rammer Jammer.

April 24 – Walter McFadden is drafted to the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the draft, and Jason Campbell is traded to the Raiders from the Redskins. Two days prior, the Raiders traded to get Quentin Groves from the Jaguars, making the Raiders go from having zero Auburn alums to three, the most in the NFL, over the course of just three days. Antonio Coleman signs as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills.

August 8 – If it looks like football, smells like football, acts like football, then it must be football. Offseason over.

September 4 – Auburn vs Arkansas State

See you next week.

Justin Lee is a third generation Auburn man and proudly makes maybe the third best Auburn music videos on the internet today. In his spare time, he is a sophomore at Auburn, majoring in journalism. Curse him at [email protected].

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